Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-13
A Promised Acquisition to the Stage,

A Promised acquisition to the stage.
The cable has recently been doing gen.
erous service in behalf of Mrs. James
Brown-Potter in acquainting the Ameri
can public with the purposes and plans
of that accomplished lady now sojourn-
ing in London. Presuming there are
some of our readers who do not know
who Mrs. Potter is, 1t is necessary to state
that she is handsome and talented
American woman, the wife of II wealthy
New York banker. 1t is less than two
years since this lady became something
of social sensation, although she had
enjoyed prominent place in the society
of New York for much longer period.
The circumstances that gave ner national
nctoriety, if the term be admissible, was
her reading of the now we'll known poom
entitled, "'Ostler joe" at ladies' re.
ception gwen by Mrs. Secretary Whitney
in Washington. AS an elocutiOnary ef-
fort the reading was a pronounced sue.
cess, but the subject did not meet with
general approval. A number OF the Ia
dies in attendance professed to have been
very much shocked, and the matter be-
came theme of disturbing social con-
trovcrsy which Kept the currents of So
ciety life at the national capital greatly
agitated for some time. The circum-
stance was widely discussed in the news
papers of the country, the poem was
everywhere published to the great ad
vantage of the author, and Mrs. Potter was
elevated into social sensation. The de-
mand for her greatly increased, Hattering
attentions were continually showercd on
her, and a social occasion at which she
was an attraction enjoyed a special dis
tinction. Mrs. Potter sought further
conquests in England, and achieved
them. With no greater difficulty than
other pretty and accomplished women
| have had she secured the favor of the
prince of Wales, and, as doesn't often
follow, that Of the princess also. Having
| always cherished taste and desire for
the stage, Mrs Potter's marked successes
as a reader intensified her wish to become
| 'footight favorite" and confirmed her
faith in her histrionic talent There was
no lack of friends to encourage her.
Besides, if Mrs Langtry could succeed
why not she, who had received much
better training and was very nearly the
peer of the English woman in beauty of
face? Mrs. Potter went to Paris and be-
came pupil of Nine. Plessy, former
member OF the Theatre Francois. Here
she quite naturally found further encour.
agement, which under the stimulus OF
liberal fees the French teacher was not
sparing of. She found Mrs. Potter "a
genius of remarkable magnetism" and
predicted that she would be "the Rachel
of the future" which to French actress
is superlative encOmium. Under this
generous and genial instigation Mrs.
Potter did not long hesitate in deciding
her course. And she Is now under en-
gagement for season at the Haymarket,
London, where she will make her debut
as Ann Sylvester in Man and Wife,
Next September, II her London engage
ment does not prove failure. she will
come TO the United States.
1t is t, be hoped that the ambition OF
Mrs. Potter to win "a genuine artistic
success" will be fully gratified. Ameri,
cans will most heartily welcome her sue
cess, and feel proud Of the fact that theiI